Reconciling Intelligence Effectiveness and Transparency: The Case of Romania (Strategic Insights, Volume 6, Issue 3, May 2007)
Abstract
One of the most difficult challenges of operating an intelligence system in a democracy is finding a balance between effectiveness (ability of the intelligence system to successfully carry out the assigned roles and missions) and transparency (access to intelligence information). In general, intelligence involves secrecy, which is vital for its effectiveness, while democracy calls for openness and accountability of the intelligence system, namely working in the context of the rule of law and respect for human rights, checks and balances, and defined mandates. Achieving a proper effectiveness-transparency balance has been difficult for countries like Romania, which underwent a regime change. Romania had to revolutionize an intelligence apparatus that used to be the force of the totalitarian regime to one that actually respects and works for the new, democratic system. Romania did not let go of the past easily and, therefore, changing the intelligence system from a highly effective state security apparatus into a democratic community equally effective and transparent has been a Sisyphian effort, yet ultimately rewarding. Almost two decades after the regime change, Romania succeeded in accommodating the two competing interests of intelligence and democracy: effectiveness and transparency. This article examines how Romania managed to reconcile and achieve a tradeoff between the two competing imperatives of operating intelligence in a democracy -- effectiveness and transparency. It analyzes what obstacles Romania overcame to accommodate the effectiveness of its post-communist intelligence system with the public need for information.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA484536
Entities
People
- Florina C. Matei
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School